BATMAN BEYOND
directed by Alex Garland (
Dredd,
Ex Machina, & FXX’s
Devs)
with Tim Burton as producer
written by Alex Garland, with story by Alex Garland and Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, & Stan Berkowitz
score by
Daniel Pemberton (Into the Spiderverse)
A big screen adaptation of the series’ original “Rebirth" 2-part pilot, with loose allusions & references to the Tim Burton universe of
Batman '89 and
Batman Returns (for instance, it was the death of Max Shreck that opened the door for Derek Powers and other pioneers of Neo-Gotham to build their city of the future--eventually giving Powers leverage to merge with Wayne Enterprises).
In translating the story to the big screen, highlight Terry's social circle of friends from school (akin to MCU's Spider-Man) for levity and character development; and expand the role of J-Man and the Jokerz gang as more prominent antagonists into the film's third act. J-Man should be this series’ main Joker, and thus folded into the overall plot in more integral way—I don’t suspect Jack Nicholson to want to return to reprise the character, so no need to try to adapt
Return of the Joker. Give Garland & Landry-Jones free reign to do something new with the Beyond Jokerz.
The film would, of course, be the launch of a franchise for the Terry McGinnis character, but would also continue the story of Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne. Even the
Beyond subtitle ties nicely with the titling scheme of the original films—Batman, Returns, and now Beyond.
The prologue, like the series pilot, will see Keaton in a Batsuit one last time before hanging up the cowl (the suit would have allusions to his Burton costume/style). Both Alfred and James Gordon have passed away, leaving Bruce alone in retirement with only his dog Ace. In the conversations between Barbara Gordon & Bruce, drop hints about his career as Batman since
Returns in '92 (
perhaps stock footage of a young Billy Dee Williams as Burton's original vision of Two Face? Or even more hints about the infamous near-apocalypse of ‘09?).
An ending stinger scene would reveal Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) watching news coverage of the Batman's 'rebirth,' setting the stage for a darker sequel adapting
Bruce Timm and Glen Murakami's original pitch for the DCAU's Project Cadmus 'Epilogue' / Catwoman-focused sequel to Return of the Joker. The trilogy would then close with the eventual showdown between Terry & Blight, the latter having been exposed to experimental chemicals in the first film & operating in the shadows since (
and include smaller villains like Shriek, Mad Stan, and/or Inque in supporting roles in both sequels).
heroes
Terry McGinnis: Timothy Chalamet, 24
Bruce Wayne: Michael Keaton, 69
Max Gibson: Yara Shahidi, 20
Commissioner Gordon: Jean Smart, 69
villains
Derek Powers: Michael Fassbender, 43
Mr. Fixx: Dave Bautista, 51
J-Man & the Jokerz Gang: Caleb Landry Jones, 30
family
Warren McGinnis: Greg Kinnear, 59
Mary McGinnis: Maura Tierney, 55
Matt McGinnis: Noah Jupe, 15
additional / supporting
Dana Tan: Lana Condor, 23
Chelsea Cunningham: Taylor Hickson, 22
Howard Groote: Nico Hirago, 21
Nelson Nash: Jackson James White, 24
D.A. Sam Young: Delroy Lindo, 67
stinger scene cameo
Selina Kyle: Michelle Pfeiffer, 62
concept artwork
originally posted by pixster on imgur
